Well I joined a website called Violinist.com when I decided to learn the violin. Two weeks later I bought my violin, named her Carmen, and shortly thereafter found a teacher aswell.
I posted a blog of my first lesson, and after the excitement of finding my lovely violin, but I decided instead of posting every week on that website that I could simply make a blog here, and anytime I wanted to post I could without fearing I was bothing someone by posting so many blogs. I find that a lot of my blogs are somewhat short, especially when I'm excited.
I took my first lesson, and I really enjoy my teacher, she says I pick up on things quickly and my violin hold is good. We quickly figured out a comfortable way to hold the violin. In the beginning I couldn't decide if I wanted to use a shoulder rest or if I wanted to learn without, so she let me borrow hers for the weekend, and niether were very comfortable to me. I now use a small cosmetic sponge that sits on my shoulder and gives me a small amount of padding. It's really very perfect for me, even though I have a long neck.
She also noticed that I have long arms, which she said is good for learning the violin.
After the lesson I went home and both my arms were so sore, I was using muscles I'd never really thought about using before.
I practiced my notes, and my bow hold, and first finger position.
A couple days later I ended up sunburned on my shoulders and neck.
I still practiced, but the first two days I had blisters, and was in so much pain I wore sleeveless shirts. Now I'm at the itchy stage, it still hurts, but is definatly healing.
I had my Second lesson this morning, and of course, that's what this particular blog is about.
I went in, after almost sleeping late, and sat down, opening my case, and taking out my violin. I mentioned that I had lost a string on my bow during the week, and she said it wasn't important, that one string is find, and told me different ways I could clip or pull it off without hurting the bow.
After that we recapped what I had been practicing, and she mentioned that I was practicing too low on the bow, that I needed to practice at the middle. I'm having difficulty with that for some reason. I also tilt the bow a little too much, so now that my strings are starting to stretch the wood hits the violin strings. I have to work on the way I tilt the bow.
I'm now practicing the first part of Twinkle Twinkle little star, she said my bowing and hold are still great, and she also mentioned she'd never had a student move that far in two lessons.
I'm flattered, but I also know that just because I'm moving fast now, doesn't mean I always will, and I know that practicing, a good ear, and an attention to detail will help.
We're also going to start teaching me how to read sheet music soon. She wrote down a couple of the basics so if I wanted to start learning this week I could.
We weren't sure how much time I'd have to practice because I start college this evening. I havn't been to school in four years, and I'm a little scared, but excited.
Hopefully before you know it I'll be playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the violin.
I didn't think I'd even learn that as quickly as I am. I actually pick up on all of it quite quickly and can definatly hear when something is off even if I'm not sure how to fix it.
My next lesson is on Monday at 9.30am, 30 minutes earlier than I normally go. I always feel so refreshed after my lessons, and encouraged. I was afraid as an adult begginner it would be hard to find a teacher that didn't look down on adult beginners, there are so many things floating around discouraging us. I'll tell you right now I don't want, nor expect to become a virtuoso, I just want to play to express my feeling that I can't describe in words, and release my soul into the music, I want to enjoy playing and let the music speak for me. I want it to be something I can do, even after a terrible day, and still enjoy it.
I told my teacher at my first lesson that there was a piece I wanted to learn really bad, and she told me to bring it in and that she could look at it, and perhaps play it to me. I brought it in, and she said it was a good piece to work towards, not so difficult that it would take me a very long time to learn.
I posted a blog of my first lesson, and after the excitement of finding my lovely violin, but I decided instead of posting every week on that website that I could simply make a blog here, and anytime I wanted to post I could without fearing I was bothing someone by posting so many blogs. I find that a lot of my blogs are somewhat short, especially when I'm excited.
I took my first lesson, and I really enjoy my teacher, she says I pick up on things quickly and my violin hold is good. We quickly figured out a comfortable way to hold the violin. In the beginning I couldn't decide if I wanted to use a shoulder rest or if I wanted to learn without, so she let me borrow hers for the weekend, and niether were very comfortable to me. I now use a small cosmetic sponge that sits on my shoulder and gives me a small amount of padding. It's really very perfect for me, even though I have a long neck.
She also noticed that I have long arms, which she said is good for learning the violin.
After the lesson I went home and both my arms were so sore, I was using muscles I'd never really thought about using before.
I practiced my notes, and my bow hold, and first finger position.
A couple days later I ended up sunburned on my shoulders and neck.
I still practiced, but the first two days I had blisters, and was in so much pain I wore sleeveless shirts. Now I'm at the itchy stage, it still hurts, but is definatly healing.
I had my Second lesson this morning, and of course, that's what this particular blog is about.
I went in, after almost sleeping late, and sat down, opening my case, and taking out my violin. I mentioned that I had lost a string on my bow during the week, and she said it wasn't important, that one string is find, and told me different ways I could clip or pull it off without hurting the bow.
After that we recapped what I had been practicing, and she mentioned that I was practicing too low on the bow, that I needed to practice at the middle. I'm having difficulty with that for some reason. I also tilt the bow a little too much, so now that my strings are starting to stretch the wood hits the violin strings. I have to work on the way I tilt the bow.
I'm now practicing the first part of Twinkle Twinkle little star, she said my bowing and hold are still great, and she also mentioned she'd never had a student move that far in two lessons.
I'm flattered, but I also know that just because I'm moving fast now, doesn't mean I always will, and I know that practicing, a good ear, and an attention to detail will help.
We're also going to start teaching me how to read sheet music soon. She wrote down a couple of the basics so if I wanted to start learning this week I could.
We weren't sure how much time I'd have to practice because I start college this evening. I havn't been to school in four years, and I'm a little scared, but excited.
Hopefully before you know it I'll be playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the violin.
I didn't think I'd even learn that as quickly as I am. I actually pick up on all of it quite quickly and can definatly hear when something is off even if I'm not sure how to fix it.
My next lesson is on Monday at 9.30am, 30 minutes earlier than I normally go. I always feel so refreshed after my lessons, and encouraged. I was afraid as an adult begginner it would be hard to find a teacher that didn't look down on adult beginners, there are so many things floating around discouraging us. I'll tell you right now I don't want, nor expect to become a virtuoso, I just want to play to express my feeling that I can't describe in words, and release my soul into the music, I want to enjoy playing and let the music speak for me. I want it to be something I can do, even after a terrible day, and still enjoy it.
I told my teacher at my first lesson that there was a piece I wanted to learn really bad, and she told me to bring it in and that she could look at it, and perhaps play it to me. I brought it in, and she said it was a good piece to work towards, not so difficult that it would take me a very long time to learn.
I attempted to link a youtube video of the song that is my goal for now, but I'm not sure I've done it right. It's called Sad Romance, by Thao Nguyen Xanh.
Wish me luck, and perhaps I'll make a video of me playing once I've learned Twinkle Twinkle, but I'm sure that will be a ways from now.
Ah the small milestones. All so worth it in the end.
Much love,
Ah the small milestones. All so worth it in the end.
Much love,
Kristen
